The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-14
HOW HENRY WARD EEECHER
CAME TO WRITE HIS NOVEL.

HOW II ENR WARD SEECHER
GAME TO WRITE HIS NOVEL.
In January, 1865, the editor OF the
Ledger addressed the following note to
Mr.. Beecher:
My DEAR Nh. BEEcHER: ] have
proposition to make to you. In the private
note that sent to orr scholarly friend, -
=, and which I read to you, you will re-
member that stated that I had paid Mr..
Everett in all, $24,400 = $4,000 for the
Mount Vernon Fund, and $14,400, at subse-
quent periods, for his own use. Now the
proposition l have to make to you is this:
will give you 1924, 400 to write a story for the
Ledger of not less than seventy five columns
in length. That would be only abont two
thirds as much matter as was in the Mount
Vernon Papers.
"Whatp' hear some one exclaim, "Henry
Ward Beecher write story?" Why not?
Can't you write story of which you
need not be ashamed2 Haven't you got the
pluck to do what You consider right? Isn't
it proper for clergyman to write q story-a
story that has good moral purpose and
aud treat it as you please:
Your friend, ROBERT BONNER.
The messenger who carried this note to
Mr.. Beecher found that he Was not at
home, but engaged at meeting of clergy
men in his church, where the letter was
delivered to him. Mr.. Beecher at once
sent the following characteristic answer:
My DEAR Mr.. BONNER: Miracles will never
end! I only write to say that l am dumb
founded, and must clear my head before
say word.
This can say--that have neither scruple
nor hesitation in writing story-if thought
could-and am sure that would see it in
the Ledger with as much pleasure as in any
magazine in the world.
Scott did not write till he was over forty.
Who knows but may turn ont great novel
list, and have it said when am dead: After
this distinguished novelist (who also some
times preached) was fifty years old, he was
found out by Robert Bonner to have turn
for fiction, etc., etc.
Truly yours, H. w BEEoHER.
On March IS, 1865, he writes again, and
more hopefully:
Ny DEAR Mr.. BONNER: Give me joy. 1
am rejoicing in success. That has come to
me for which have been in travail-a clear
story from beginning to end-all the charac-
ters that want, and more than can use in
one work, and incidents enough
am, for the first time, this morning, full
of hope, without cloud, and shall now enjoy
working it out.
All that l shall tell you now is, that pur-
pose in the first volume to open up New Eng
land-t town society in the growth of my hero
and heroine to manhood. In my second l
shall take her South to teach just before the
war; put them through the uprising, and next
throw in battles, and by suffering and heroism
break down the bindrances between them.
The plan is clear in my head. have made
several sketches and beginnings, and found
that could work up easy enough, but I had
fatal weakness in the want of real story,
toward which all things should work. Now
I've got it! 1t all opened up to me in five
seconds.
Get ready to take me out behind your two
incarnate sheets of lightning!
Yours, H. w. B.
And 80 it came to pass that Mr.. Beech
or wrote Norwood" which stands for
Northampton Ia the beautiful valley OF
the Connecticut.
The effect of this story ON the circula-
ton of the Ledger was one OF the won
ders Of those times, and justified Mr.. Bon
ner's sagaeity and enterprise, and not
only so, bat when it was sfterward issued
in book form, it very shortly cold over
10000 copies. 1t has ever since remained
favorite with those who delight in the
purity and beauty, the shrewd wit and
homely wisdom, the quaint and sterling
characters and the genuine rural lowell
ness of New England life. 1t is one of
the refreshing books-thst will bear to be
read and re-rsad, while its characters and
events are already become history, and
their generation is passing away.